Escape from submerged vehicles not impossible

Published: Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, July 26, 2014 at 11:37 p.m.

Driving by scenic bayous is one of the perks of living in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, but with that comes a risk of your vehicle being submerged in water.

Since May, three people have been killed when their vehicles ended up in local waterways.

Shawn Dardar, 29, of Golden Meadow, was killed on May 11 when his pickup truck veered off of La. 56, struck a fence pole and a concrete barrier and rolled into the bayou where it sank.

On July 16, Ashley Worrell, 31, and her 3-year-old daughter, Delaney Lirette, both of Theriot, were killed when the pickup truck Worrell was driving on La. 315 veered off the road and overturned into a canal.

"That's just the nature of where we live," said Brennan Matherne, Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman. "There's a very likely possibility of a car potentially going into the water in the event of a crash, especially when traveling our major state highways, most of which border bodies of water."

Matherne said a crash into a body of water can be survived.

"The first thing is stay as calm as possible. That's the key in any crash, but in a water crash that's the biggest thing to remember. It's tough because you realize that you're in a potentially life-threatening situation. But you can survive it if you remain calm throughout the process," Matherne said.

The first minute after a vehicle has gone into a waterway but before it has begun to sink is the most crucial, State Police Troop C spokesman Evan Harrell said.

"Depending on the type and weight, a vehicle will remain afloat for about a minute. Get the window open as fast as you can. Don't try to open the door," Harrell said.

Once your car begins sinking the pressure of the water will make it nearly impossible to open the door or window. So it is important get the window open before the pressure builds or in case of an electric window the circuits short out, Harrell said.

If you are unable to open the window before the car sinks completely, you should try to break it with a safety tool kept in an easily accessible location inside your vehicle, Matherne said.

"These tools are relatively inexpensive and they have a metal point on one end to break the window, and some of them even have a blade on them to cut the seat belt if you can't get it off on your own. Find a place in your car to mount it. Don't leave it under your seat. Focus the tool on the bottom of the window, that's the easiest place to break it," he said.

If you've successfully broken the window you can travel through it to swim to the surface. If there are other passengers in the vehicle such as children, they should exit the vehicle first. Young children should be carried out of the submerged vehicle, Harrell said.

If you are still able to breathe but have not been able to escape by breaking a window there is still a chance for survival, Harrell said.

"Stay calm and find an air pocket in the vehicle. Once the water fills the car, the pressure will be equalized and you will be able to open the door. Take a deep breath as the water is about to fill the vehicle and go for the door. Your chances are slimmer by taking this action, but you can still get out," he said.

Staff Writer Jordan Gribble can be reached at 857-2208 or jordan.gribble@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGrib_Courier.

<p>Driving by scenic bayous is one of the perks of living in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, but with that comes a risk of your vehicle being submerged in water.</p><p>Since May, three people have been killed when their vehicles ended up in local waterways.</p><p>Shawn Dardar, 29, of Golden Meadow, was killed on May 11 when his pickup truck veered off of La. 56, struck a fence pole and a concrete barrier and rolled into the bayou where it sank. </p><p>On July 16, Ashley Worrell, 31, and her 3-year-old daughter, Delaney Lirette, both of Theriot, were killed when the pickup truck Worrell was driving on La. 315 veered off the road and overturned into a canal. </p><p>"That's just the nature of where we live," said Brennan Matherne, Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office spokesman. "There's a very likely possibility of a car potentially going into the water in the event of a crash, especially when traveling our major state highways, most of which border bodies of water."</p><p>Matherne said a crash into a body of water can be survived.</p><p>"The first thing is stay as calm as possible. That's the key in any crash, but in a water crash that's the biggest thing to remember. It's tough because you realize that you're in a potentially life-threatening situation. But you can survive it if you remain calm throughout the process," Matherne said.</p><p>The first minute after a vehicle has gone into a waterway but before it has begun to sink is the most crucial, State Police Troop C spokesman Evan Harrell said.</p><p>"Depending on the type and weight, a vehicle will remain afloat for about a minute. Get the window open as fast as you can. Don't try to open the door," Harrell said.</p><p>Once your car begins sinking the pressure of the water will make it nearly impossible to open the door or window. So it is important get the window open before the pressure builds or in case of an electric window the circuits short out, Harrell said.</p><p>If you are unable to open the window before the car sinks completely, you should try to break it with a safety tool kept in an easily accessible location inside your vehicle, Matherne said.</p><p>"These tools are relatively inexpensive and they have a metal point on one end to break the window, and some of them even have a blade on them to cut the seat belt if you can't get it off on your own. Find a place in your car to mount it. Don't leave it under your seat. Focus the tool on the bottom of the window, that's the easiest place to break it," he said.</p><p>If you've successfully broken the window you can travel through it to swim to the surface. If there are other passengers in the vehicle such as children, they should exit the vehicle first. Young children should be carried out of the submerged vehicle, Harrell said.</p><p>If you are still able to breathe but have not been able to escape by breaking a window there is still a chance for survival, Harrell said.</p><p>"Stay calm and find an air pocket in the vehicle. Once the water fills the car, the pressure will be equalized and you will be able to open the door. Take a deep breath as the water is about to fill the vehicle and go for the door. Your chances are slimmer by taking this action, but you can still get out," he said.</p><p>Staff Writer Jordan Gribble can be reached at 857-2208 or jordan.gribble@houmatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGrib_Courier.</p>